“When you speak of her, speak not with tears, for thoughts of her should not be sad.”
Delisa Cozart Barnes, a.k.a “Baby,” was born on December 25, 1960, and she departed this life on May 30, 2024. Her parents, Parker and Joyce Ruth Abbage Cozart, preceded her in death. Born on Christmas day, Delisa would request that her Christmas and birthday gifts be wrapped separately to make sure that she received two different gifts.
Delisa graduated from Huntingdon High School in 1979, where she remained on the honor roll throughout her high school years. She was also a cheerleader for the Huntingdon Mustangs during this time. After her high school graduation, Delisa attended the University of TN at Knoxville and later she completed her Bachelor of Science degree for physical therapy in 1983 at the University of TN at Memphis. Prior to beginning a career with the Shelby County School System, she worked for Saint Francis Hospital and various home health agencies.
Delisa attended First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Huntingdon, TN where she was baptized at the tender age of nine, under the leadership of Rev. Raymond Bond. When she moved to Memphis, she eventually joined Fellowship United MB Church, where she was under the leadership of Rev. Lawrence E. Barksdale and was recently under the leadership of Rev. James C. Wiggins. Delisa served faithfully as an usher, the usher board treasurer, and the leader of the church emergency medical team until her passing.
She was united in holy matrimony on January 1,1999 to Willie Raymond Barnes whom she loved dearly for 25 years. She leaves to cherish her memory and legacy to her loving husband, Willie Raymond Barnes; her adorable son Aaron (British) Echols of Charlotte, NC; and a “special” daughter and granddaughter, Kristi and Charli Steele of Memphis, TN. She also leaves to cherish her memory, her devoted stepmother, Marie Cozart of Huntingdon, TN; two aunts, Catherine Cozart of Nashville, TN; Gloria Cozart of Riverside, CA; two brothers, Jerry (Pam) Taylor of Jackson, TN, and Gregory (Carolyn) Cozart of Huntingdon, TN, one stepbrother, Timothy (Rosanna) Townes of Hollow Rock, TN; two sisters, Reda (Devon) Cunningham of Martin, TN and Sheila Danette (Dave) Chiarelli of Danville, CA; and one stepsister, Elizabeth Townes of Huntingdon, TN. She also leaves her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law of Jackson, TN, Nashville, TN, and Atlanta, GA. She also leaves several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and was very proud of them. Delisa leaves a host of other family members and friends whom she cherished. Profoundly, she leaves her legacy of helping many special needs students and their parents.
Delisa loved devoting time to embroidery work, decorating, making birthday/anniversary baskets for others, and volunteering for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. One of her greatest joys was helping to decorate her church and create special trinkets for various occasions. Delisa was a traveler, and she enjoyed trying different types of food, touring various attractions, and shopping.
“Let memories of the times you shared give you comfort, for her life was rich because of you.”
